Queen's of Islam are royal women of America who represent dignity, strength, and faith above all the rest. Breaking out of the mold, shell, and bubble...Queen's of Islam are truly unique in their quest to reform the reputation and meaning behind being American and following the faith of Islam. This blog was created and is led by Nicole Queen, the American convert who left her life as a media photographer to pursue her dream of a peaceful life, which she discovered in Islam.

Islamic Interests

Monday, June 21, 2010

This is a great article about a Texas college student who decides to wear hijab for 1 year. She is not a Muslim and this was not part of a social experiment. She states that she simply wanted to see what it felt like in the shoes of a hijab clad Muslim girl. It's a great story, and even more inspiration for girls to value their beauty and self-respect.

Ana McKenzie-Daily Texan Staff

Mary Kang/The Daily Texan

Spencer Wall, fourth-year English and sociology major, talks about her experience wearing a hijab on Wednesday night at Kerbey Lane Cafe. Wall, a Christian from West Texas, embarked on a personal experience in which she dressed as a Muslim woman for a year, starting in April.

I first noticed Spencer Wall in my religion and society class toward the end of last semester. She wasn’t particularly outspoken, but the shawl that covered her hair, neck and shoulders made her stand out in the large class. I usually gave her nothing more than a completely unconscious glance. But when she revealed to the class the decision that she made on April 27, I suddenly became aware of the attention I gave her. Wall, a 20-year-old sociology and English senior, decided to assume the characteristics and attire of a “typical” Muslim woman for a year starting in late April. She wears the traditional veil, or “hijab,” and loose-fitting clothing everywhere she goes and does not consume pork or alcohol in public. She avoids eye and physical contact with men and has adopted modest habits like walking with her arms glued to her sides or crossed in front of her to hide her chest. I witnessed the looks Wall gets on a daily basis when we met at Kerbey Lane on the Drag recently. She’s wearing a hijab splashed with vibrant shades of green and blue. A long-sleeved, black shirt and floor-length aqua skirt reveals only a few inches of skin.

Some who pass us try to be inconspicuous with their intrigue, limiting themselves to quick side glances. But most don’t even try to be candid with their exaggerated double-takes or blatant stares. She passes by a group waiting to be seated, and all of them stare at the back of her head as she walks away. One guy even rolls his eyes. “It doesn’t surprise me,” she says when I tell her about the group. “But look around. They’re not the only ones.” She insists her decision is not a social experiment but more of a personal learning experience. As a white female from a small, West Texas town, Wall says she wanted to know what it would be like to be part of a “noticeable minority.” “I’m not representing Muslim women or the Muslim community,” she says. “I just want to know what it’s like to walk in their shoes for a while.”

Initially, Wall elaborates on her “learning experience” when people would ask her questions, the most common being “So, where are you from?” She has abandoned these efforts. Now, when people ask about her attire, she simply says she is not Muslim but wears the hijab because she chooses to do so. This explanation is not entirely untrue, as Wall admits to not being able to leave her home without the clothing. “I decided a while ago that I was going to try and not wear the hijab for 24 hours,” she says. “I couldn’t even make it for half that.” Wall says she receives different reactions when she wears the hijab.A man once fell into a display at Wal-Mart because he was staring at her. One day a group of male patrons at the restaurant where she works refused to be served by her. The same group called her derogatory names. But most of the time she said she is just respectfully avoided. “I wouldn’t say guys don’t hit on me, but they do so in a very different way now,” she says. “It’s more respectful, less forward.”

The experience has taught Wall to pay attention to smaller details that would make a traditional Muslim lifestyle difficult to follow in the United States. One day at a clothing store, Wall had to ask for a sheet to cover a gap between the floor and dressing room door so she could hide her bare legs as she changed. Her job as a waitress presents one of the most awkward situations as it naturally entails a lot of physical contact with strangers, which is not allowed for Muslim women, she said. Wall has grown to appreciate this sort of privacy and, in some ways, respect it. Perhaps the most unexpected outcome of the experience is a newfound devotion to her Christian faith. The Islamic faith requires followers to pray five times a day, the first prayer being at 5 a.m.Though Wall has not yet assumed this tradition, she admits she may in the future, and finds herself praying more often. "You know we live in a society that is very unconscious of daily religious activities,” she said. “Throughout this experience, I have noticed myself becoming much more aware of God.” Throughout our conversation, I find myself wanting to discuss the most obvious topic, but can’t bring it up without having to continually justify myself. Doesn’t she feel constricted and even oppressed by the practices she is assuming? Wall’s candidness to discuss such issues validates my impression of her. She constantly reassures me to ask even the most probing questions and to present any debate, illustrating a maturity and intelligence uncommon for a 20-year-old. This experience has taught me to respect a woman’s decision to stay home with her children or wear a hijab or go out and become CEOs,” Wall said. She finishes her sentence, as I notice a young woman staring at the back of Wall’s head. Her eyes momentarily follow the outline of the brightly colored veil and then quickly move away. Instead of feeling sorry for Wall and assuming that the attention is warranted by feelings of resentment or fear, I soon wonder if the girl is instead intrigued by the hijab. Wall admits to only showing her hair in the most intimate of settings, and I realize that I’m slightly jealous of someone who respects something I easily take for granted.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

I'm so glad that my amazing husband Hassan helps me with the messages I get, he is a blessing for sure. Without his help, I would have never seen the message from a wonderful producer at Algeria TV, requesting that I join their documentary film "They Chose Islam".A lot of countries in the Middle East, meaning Muslim countries, are so shocked and amazed that Muslims are happy living in America and even more surprising that US natives are choosing to join the ranks of Muslims in this free country. Some might think," Being a Muslim is a tough life, of discipline and sacrifice, why would you want to leave your easy life for this?" Well it's such a pleasure to be part of a project aiming to teach the "born Muslims" of the world why Islam is such a great fit for Americans. Americans who convert to Islam do so with such a profound passion and determination that the people who were teaching them about Islam, end up being left in the dust of their deen. When someone living in the US learns about Islam, usually one of two things happens. One being complete rejection of the faith, not understanding the reasoning behind all the sacrifice they will have to make from their lawless lifestyle. The other is the most beautiful, complete and boundless devotion to Islam's message and the lifestyle prescribed by God. It's like waking up from a bad dream. When you are tired of living like life is some game and we are all little toys to be played with by each other...then living for God is the rehab that a lot of Americans are checking into.

When people in the Middle East think of America, they picture something of what they see the movies....Great right? So all the women are plastic and "loose" and all the men are unnaturally handsome and have intelligence beyond capability. Money is growing on trees, we all have plenty of time for adventures and leave our kids with our South American nannies. Then when they actually get here they see that well, all except for the super intellect of our men, it's close to being true. So when they think of the lifestyle of a Muslim, devoted to God 24\7, ignoring human carnal desires and making every decision each day in the name of God...Well they think there is no way people here are going to choose this lifestyle over the "movie" option. They are wrong. Those of us who are sick of the overexposed, over spoiled mentality of most people, are searching for more of a purpose in life and what better purpose to live for than God?It was a blessing to be part of this documentary, all though it was really hard work, because of the message of strength it sends to the world. I love being American, the strength I grew up with, and that makes me an even more determined Muslim. I am thankful for what I have, and thankful that becoming Muslim helped me appreciate life in a different way, and to realize what most Americans seem to be blind to...the greatest pleasure in life is not my own.

About Me

I am an American girl from small town Texas who converted to the faith of Islam. Shocking, I know but living the chaotic lifestyle I lived as a night life photographer, drove me to look for a higher purpose in life. God was that purpose and I have never looked back. I'm a public speaker about Islam in America and a professional photographer with 10 years of experience. I am thankful for my new life, and happily married with a beautiful baby boy. Read my story on www.NicoleQueen.com